The Senate yesterday rejected the recommendations of its Committee on Aviation on the alleged violation of the aviation laws and practice by foreign airlines and lapses in the operation of regulatory agencies.

The report was thrown back at the committee for more legislative input following a motion by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu that a lot of sentiments were involved in the debate.

Senate President David Mark said the Senate would take measures to stop foreign airlines operating in the country, including the British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic, from exploiting Nigerians.

He said the Senate cannot fold its hand and allow foreign airlines to exploit Nigerians.

The Senate aborted the adoption of the recommendations of the Senator Hope Uzodinma-led committee due to disagreement on some vital recommendations.

The committee had recommended that the economic regulatory powers of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) should be reviewed and strengthened and that the Senate should mandate it to start the process of amending the Civil Aviation Act of 2006.

The recommendation to grant Arik Air the national flag carriers status was not supported by many of the lawmakers who wondered why the airline should be granted such a favour.

Senator Mark said he was infuriated by a section of the report that talked about how foreign airlines operating in Nigeria exploit the country and its citizens.

He said: “I think you have done a lot of good work, but I think there is a lot more the committee should have done.

“I have not seen in this report where you have explained the difference in fares among the airlines flying to Accra-London, Lagos-London or Abuja-London.

“I have not found here the recommendations to remedy the disparity in fares because it is ongoing. I know we are talking of anti-thrust laws, but that is not the issue.

“You need to go back and bring very critical recommendations that will make us change the aviation industry.

“As it is at the moment, there are many problems. Of course, one of them is to reorganise our airports.

“The airports we have at the moment, for foreign airlines to come here, they are doing us a favour because as soon as you get to our airports, you see confusion.

“We also need to do our home work before pointing accusing fingers or blaming others for our problems.

“What can we do because Nigerians expect that we should protect them so that people don’t take undue advantage of them? Can we do anything?

“The point is, let nobody exploit Nigerians. British Airways and other airlines are exploiting Nigerians and we cannot fold our hands and say we cannot do anything.”